War Progress: 1/2/2006

Elections set milestone for Iraqis
Story by Spc. Dan Balda, 4th Brigade Combat Team
BAGHDAD — The day seemed downright festive: children marched in impromptu parades, men wore suits (on their day off no less), entire families took long walks from their homes to polling sites.

The Iraqi parliamentary elections Dec. 15 gave Iraqis a chance to showcase the pride they have in their country and the hope they have for the future.

New Transformer Means More Reliable Power for Baghdad
By Jenna Bisenius, Project and Contracting Office Gulf Region Division
Baghdad, Iraq – The new transformer added alongside two existing transformers at a west Baghdad substation serves a dual purpose: to convert 132-kilovolt (kV) power down to 33-kV power and to act as a backup unit when workers take one of the other transformers off-line for maintenance. This addition ensures electricity that is more dependable for Iraqis living in the Baghdad area and helps to increase their hours of uninterrupted electrical service.

USS Pearl Harbor VBSS Team Builds Bridges in Arabian Gulf
By Cryptologic Technician 3rd Class Karen Moore – Expeditionary Strike Group One Public Affairs
AT SEA ABOARD USS PEARL HARBOR IN THE ARABIAN GULF— The amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) conducted maritime security operations (MSO) in the Arabian Gulf Nov. 20 - Dec. 26.

Engineers and Infantry: Working Together on Landing Zone Operations in Afghanistan
By SSgt Drew Weist – 864th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy), Task Force Peacemaker
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - In Sharona, Afghanistan, an unlikely team of Soldiers was put together, consisting of combat engineers and infantry, creating the smooth running machine responsible for the safe air transport of numerous Soldiers, supplies, and multi-million dollar aircraft.

Noncommissioned Officers Corps Provides Foundation for Afghan Army
By SSG Mason T Lowry – OSC-A Public Affairs – US Army
KABUL , Afghanistan – At the heart of every successful military organization is a group of professional leaders who embody the core and individual values that define that organization.

They are called noncommissioned officers; the soldiers on the ground, making sure their officers’orders are carried out, making sure soldiers are taken care of.

The next two are contributed by Camp Katrina. Go check them out!
OPERATION GREEN TRIDENT TURNS UP 72 CACHES (CENTCOM): U.S. Marines discovered more than ten metric tons of munitions hidden at 72 cache sites 39 km south of Fallujah during the week-long Operation Green Trident.
WEAPONS SEIZED, TWO SUSPECTS DETAINED (CENTCOM): Iraqi and U.S. forces in northern Iraq uncovered four weapons caches and detained two suspected terrorists Dec. 30.